House Democrat blasted after early release law freed inmates later charged with murder

A COVID-era prison release law championed by Rep. Nellie Pou, D-N.J., is facing renewed scrutiny after multiple inmates freed early under the program were later charged with murder. More than 7,000 inmates received an early release starting in November 2020 after then-Gov. Phil Murphy, D-N.J., signed legislation sponsored by Pou, then a New Jersey state senator. Under the law, state inmates were eligible for early release via "public health emergency credits" if they had less than one year remai